Trouble Introducing Solids

Updated on August 10, 2009
S.F. asks from Westborough, MA
15 answers

Dear Wise Mamas,
Please help! Our son has had trouble since the introduction of solids. As a backdrop, he was born with GERD, a milk/soy protein allergy and colic. All other than the milk/soy protein allergy cleared up within five months and I am managing avoid eating all of the offending foods so that I can continue to breastfeed him. By the time he made it to six months- we thought we were smooth sailing. Unfortunately, introducing solids has caused a new problem. He is terribly constipated- he writhes for a day and a half until we finally use a glycerin suppository to help him get his poops moving out. I know this is TMI, but we have tried so many things, and still his poops are still like golf balls- poor guy! I still nurse him about 8 times a day, and he gets solids about twice 3-8 oz. Our pediatrician told us to eliminate the cereals- which we did with no result. Then- she told us to eliminate carrots and yams which can be constipating. That also did not appear to make a difference. We are currently giving him pears, peaches, asparagus, prunes and we have tried peas (I make most). I have also started giving him some water, although we have to give it to him with a syringe or spoon because he will not take a bottle or sippy. I am in near tears at the end of every day and my husband has had to travel for business for over a month, so I am not getting the help I usually do. I am really exhausted. Is there anything else I could be trying? Did any of you deal with this and discover something that worked for you? Did your baby outgrow this? Our son is teething as well- and with our first son, this meant really loose stools, but no such result with our second... I have read that it is very uncommon to have constipation in a baby that receives no formula. Should I be worried? Any ideas/experience would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

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L.P.

answers from Honolulu on

Just a thought, but could his digestive track not be fully ready for food yet? Kids develop at different speeds and I'm wondering, since he did have some allergy issues early on, if he might need a little extra time before introducing solids. Just a thought!

Marie-anne

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R.J.

answers from San Diego on

My grandparents were docs...obviously old school docs...so in our family we don't introduce solids until around 9-10 months at the earliest. The idea being, that until they have at least 4, but preferably 8 teeth that they're not ready for it. As all babies get their teeth at different ages, so too would you start introducing solids at different ages. The 8 teeth rule meant that quite frequently, it's not until about 2 weeks before their frist birthday (to make sure they won't be allergic to the cake ingredients, honestly) that the babies in our family get their first "more than a taste". And then the very very slow introduction of solids. We WOULD let them start tasting our food younger than a year...but never more than a gum/lick/spoonful.

I didn't even think about others introducing foods earlier than we do at the time, but being on this board, over and over and over...it's the 6 month old and intestinal troubles. I can't help thinking that perhaps the oldschool way was right.

2 moms found this helpful
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A.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi S.,
I know exactly how you feel, I went through the exact same problems to a T!!!! The best thing that worked for us was a laxative called "Little Tummys"laxative drops. I was hesitant to use a laxative because I feared abdominal cramping and pain, but it is very, very gentle and works within about 12 hours maybe longer.You can get it at the gocerey store, I would call around first.Also i would suggest that you UP your fiber intake so that more is secreted in your breast milk. Definetly do it SLOWLY and see if a little makes a difference.Also, is your son on any meds for the GERD? Previcid was what our Doc prescribed to our son after a few other meds failed and it made a world of difference with his pain and projectile vomiting. Please let me know how it goes.

Sincerely, A.

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A.N.

answers from Las Vegas on

From the time my son was born to the time we introduced solids, my son had pooping issues. He was formula fed for a while (and was constipated for part of that time), and the I relactated (when he was one and a half months old), and he was breastfed from that point on. He would go 1 or 2 weeks without pooping (which is weird for breastfed babies), but he wasn't constipated, it just wouldn't come out. Once we started feeding him solids, he actually he got regular, and he now poops every single day. Things that make most babies constipated (bananas and rice), help keep him regular. Anyway, you might want to take out all foods and just breastfeed to clean out his system, then slowly try introducing different things again. He doesn't really need the solids yet, so going a few days without won't hurt (just make sure you breastfeed him more if needs it).

I'm pretty sure asparagus made my son a bit constipated, and that's supposed to be something that helps you go. All babies are different, and they react differently to food, which is why you should you sort of play with it. I would go longer on introducing new foods too, to make sure that he isn't getting constipated from that one new food.

You said you're feeding him 3-8 oz twice a day, that is a lot in one sitting for a 7 month old. I started out with 1 or 2 tablespoons once a day, then twice, then added in another feeding. Then once he got to three feedings, started increasing the amount in each meal. I did this very slowly, and it really helped me keep up my milk supply (which is going strong, he's now 11 and a half months old).

One more thing, on him not taking a sippy cup or bottle, I started the sippy cup at about 7 months (no bottles since the first couple of months), and it took him a couple of weeks to get used to it. Don't force it on him, just let him play with it, and help him drink out of it if he seems interested. The other thing you can try is a real cup, my son would drink out of a plastic cup (with help of course), at around 4 months. He would try water when we were drinking it, you might want to try something like that.

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L.T.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi S.,

Hang in there! You are doing such an awesome job so far, it's just an obstacle. Have you tried probiotics for the little guy? You could mix a good quality powdered one into his pureed food. I would also recommend going to whole foods or another natural supplement store and getting a homeopathic remedy for constipation - these will dissolve under the tongue. One final thing that should help him digest his food better - a plant based digestive enzyme for kids. These come in capsules but can be opened and put in the food. This should eliminate the pain he has when eating. Also lots and lots of water for both him and you. I hope this helps you out.

L.

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J.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

He's only 7 months! HE's just not ready for solids yet. Stick with nursing and have fun with the foods, not think that they need to be his main meals. My son didn't take to solids until almost a year old and to this day he's a lousy eater in my opinion, but he's still here... so I guess he's getting enough to eat.

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K.K.

answers from San Diego on

Hello, Sorry to hear of your baby's problems. Our second child (who is 38 now) was also allergic to milk. You say you make most of the baby food. If you are buying any of the premade baby foods, check the ingredients. Many of them used to use milk in them. This could be a part of his problem. Just a thought.
Good luck with your precious family.
K. K.

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K.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

I'm gonna go with your first couple of responses and say, just cool it with the foods altogether. The first six months of life only need breastmilk, the next six months also only need breastmilk! :) Offering solids is just to let them start tasting new things... it's not meant to "fill them up" or provide a significant amount of nutrition or calories. My son had the same problem yours is, he would get extremely constipated at the smallest amount of food, and then started refusing to take even one bite of solids at all (around 8mo old). My daughter just didn't want to be fed by an adult, she wanted to do it herself... so the result was that I would give her a few pieces of soft chopped food (around 7mo old) and she would MAYBE get three or four bites in her mouth twice a day by herself! I nursed my son until he was 19 months and by then he was eating a healthy well rounded diet with no constipation problems, and my daughter at 13 months is still nursing round the clock and eats small amounts of food about four times a day. Good luck to you, I know this can be very stressful and it's exciting to see your baby eating new things, but it sounds like his body is just not ready :(

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M.C.

answers from Honolulu on

My Daughter was constipated, too. she is now seven, and she continues to have constipation flare-ups from time to time. All I can say is, just give him a little bit of food when you feed him. Don't give him a jar's worth of food. It is good that you make your own food, the more whole food, the better. Just keep at it. His body will get used to processing the food as he gets exposed to it more and more. At his age, eating food is more for practice, and to develop the skill of eating, not really for nutrition. Heck, my second daughter ALWAYS had more food on her face than inside her tummy! Don't stress, he gets most of his nutrition from you, so just give him a spoonful or two.

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M.B.

answers from Honolulu on

Hi S.,

I don't know if you're into Chiropractic care, but I have taken my son (because of poop problems) to one various times with great results. I don't know where you're located, but I can recommend a great one in Costa Mesa & also here in Honolulu. I also know there's a website to look one up, but can't remember what it is right now. If you're interested, write me back & I'll find out for you. I actually think you're doing a great job with the breastfeeding & the solids. I introduced my son to solids at this time also & now (at 14 months), he's a great eater & will eat/try almost everything.

The only other thing I can think of is to be extra anal about what you're eating. I myself have a milk/soy protein intolerance & any little bit will make me totally backed up! I've learned to have to read ingredient lists of crackers, chips, granola bars (lots of soy "nuggets" in these), cereals (also added milk protein or soy), etc. Most sorbets are made with milk(contrary to what most people think). Baked goods also have milk...pancake mix (and usually added milk to make), certain cakes, frostings, etc. I luckily am okay with butter (no milk protein in that) and yogurt(extra enzymes to help with digestion).

good luck

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M.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

I personally did not feed my son solids until he was closer to a year old. If you're still able to breastfeed, then I say go with that. Breastfeeding is the best thing you can give him anyway. Their bodies are still young and developing what they need to handle other foods. If their body is not equipped yet to handle them, they can have problems like allergies to foods.
I've never heard of the intestinal problem that the previous poster mentioned, but I'd read up on that as well.
I just feel that particularly since your son already had GERD, that it might be good to move slowly on the solids.
All the best to you and your son.

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H.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Dear S.,
My first son was a premie and I did not start him on solid food until about 10 months. Then I introduced only one item at a time. I personally would back off all solid foods. Wait until he readjusts and start over with one item at a time. Applesauce is a good food for helping with constipation. I usually started mine on rice cereal then after a few weeks, applesauce. Then in a few weeks a vegetable. Go back and then proceed very slowly. By only introducing one food every few weeks, you will know each time you feed something that he has problems with and put it on the "try when he is older" list and not continue the food. I do hope you figure out the problem. I think his digestive system is just immature and your are trying him on solids too quickly.
Enjoy your two beautiful blessings,
H.

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L.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Take your son's problems with BM very seriously. My niece had similar symptoms and they finally diagnosed an anatomical birth defect that causes constipation at the very last foot of her intestines. Unfortunately for her, by the time the figured this all out (via detailed GI Xrays and an endoscopy, the specialists didn't think they could surgically fix her, and it's something she'll need to deal with for the rest of her life. I don't mean to scare you, but my sister-in-law had a hard time getting doctors to take this issue seriously, and this delayed the diagnosis. Had they found the issue earlier, they could have solved it surgically and she'd be fine.
Have him checked out, possibly by a pediatric GI specialist. My niece was diagnosed at Children's Hospital Orange County, but I'm not sure of the name of her doctor.

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C.B.

answers from San Diego on

Hi S., My daughter was constipated a lot with baby food solids. Then, I switched to making her purees from fresh food, and it stopped. Obviously, it takes more work but you can freeze the food by preparing the veggies in batches and really just grind up fruit on a daily basis which takes a few minutes. Check out www.wholesomebabyfood.com It is more work but after I saw the results it was worth it to me. Good Luck!

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K.T.

answers from Las Vegas on

Dip a pacifier in prune juice and let him suck it off. Do this several times a day. Just an idea...

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